Our Christmas Vacation

We had a wonderful Christmas vacation!  We enjoyed the time with family, the ridiculously warm weather, family meals, and watching Addison play with her new toys!  Addison was spoiled!  Her new toys, books, and clothes filled up one entire suitcase (plus a few things to ship).  Her room is packed with toys now!  We posted the couch in her room on craigslist and ordered a toy organizer!  We are so thankful for our family and how special they made her first Christmas!

We have hundreds of pictures, but here are just a few that capture our time in FL:

Ritter Uncles

opening presents at the Ritter's

playing with her new activity table with Papa

enjoying her new slide from Nana and Papa

watching Papa grill up some awesome meals

enjoying the warm weather

playing outside with Aunt Donna

swinging at Grammy and PoppyT's

"hanging" with Daddy

playing with the purple flowers

opening presents at Grandpa and Grandma Barber's house

a laptop from Dad, of course

opening presents at Grammy and PoppyT's house

reading her new book with Uncle Scotty

using her new walker

enjoying the Christmas tree with Grammy

Our little family, minus Lou Lou and Stella

 all dolled up for Christmas Eve service



"All I want for Christmas is ...

... my two front teeth!"

Four teeth total!

Andrew finished three exams this week!  He needs to write a 15-20 page rough draft on a paper by the 18th and then he can enjoy Christmas break.  Three more days!

High Five

While trying to teach Addison how to clap, we taught her how to give high fives ... down low.  It's the cutest thing.  She gets so excited about. 

Five more days until we leave for Florida...we are in need of the Sunshine State. 

Addison loves turning the pages of her books!



Sansotta's and presents

Last Monday, Erin and Molli flew home from Alaska so they spent the day with us here in Chicago.  We had a busy day.  When we got home from the airport at 10 am, we all took a nap.  Erin and Molli only had about 6 hours of sleep so they were exhausted.  We went to Chick-fil-a for lunch and then to the Children's Museum to play.  Molli is such a big girl now!  They are only six months apart, but Molli is walking and talking! 

playing with the light switches

catching fish, frogs, and lizards

We had a good time and the babies did really well despite how messed up their schedule was that day!  The Sansotta's are trying to move up north (most likely Alaska) and we are moving to Florida so this visit may be the last one in a long time.  It makes me cry just thinking about it.  I wish we could be neighbors, but instead we will be over 5,000 miles apart.  We have been blessed to have had this time together in Illinois, even if we are 3 hours away.  I love you, Sansotta Family!

Mom (Grammy) sent Addison an early Christmas present:

she walks and stands with it

and she rides in it (with bed head!)

 

Thank you Mom!  Mom also got Addison a fiber optic Christmas Tree, that she LOVES.  Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!  It snowed yesterday and we went to see Santa!  I will post pictures soon!

9 month check up

Here is a video of Addison dancing this morning:

Addison had her 9 month well visit today.  She got one shot and a blood test (iron and lead).  She is in the 10th percentile for height at 26.25 inches and weight at 16 pounds 3 ounces.  Her head circumference is in the 10-25th percentile at 42.9 centimeters.  Doctor said she is doing well, won't be surprised if she walks before her first birthday.  Also said that with all this exercise she may stay around the 10th percentile for a while too and not to worry.  Ready to start moving more toward solid food and less pureed food.  We can also start weaning her around 11 months and introducing whole cows milk around then too.    

Addison says "mamamama" and "dadadada", however she has not yet matched the word to the person. Super excited about it anyway!  The connection will come!

Today she has also cut another tooth, making her total three. It is the left upper central incisor.  It looks like the right one will soon cut too. 

My little baby is changing every day.

 Twelve more days until we are Florida-bound!



Learning to dance and stand!

I believe Addison learned to dance this week.  I've been playing Christmas music and as soon as it turns on she gets excited and rocks or bounces.  It makes me very happy!  Addison has also started standing on her own this week.  Her current record is 10 seconds!  She is such a cautious girl and prefers to do it on her own terms.  We applaud her when we catch her practicing and she likes it.

Stella and Lou Lou are such good sports! 

They are so patient with Addison too.

Addison loves finger food and is beginning to dislike pureed food.  AHHH.

Her kitchen toys: small frying pan, small loaf pan, and a wooden spoon.  It gets noisy : )

Tomorrow is her 9 monthday (Andrew corrects me when I say "tomorrow is her 9 month birthday").